<<Stardate: 47307.16- 11:30>>

<<Captains Office>>

"Enter.", Captain Zebediah Cochran called at the sound of his doorchime. Epic Terrakian entered, standing tall and straight. He was almost at attention.

"Yes, Commander? I have a lot to do before we shove off." Cochran seemed a little agitated.

"Lt. Comm. Hunt was unhappy with your choosing his assistant without his input.", Epic said evenly, without inflection.

"So?", Cochran replied. "Am I supposed to apologize? Should I send him a card?" The question was rhetorical, of course, and the sarcasm was obvious.

"No, sir.", Epic responded.

Cochran looked at Epic and knew that this was not the only reason the younger man was here. But, he had little time for unproductive banter.

"You have something else to say. Say it."

Epics expression became surprised. Who was the empath here? He thought for a moment about the best way to present his intuition, then decided to just come out and say it.

"You are my father." There was no question in the statement. Epic was as sure of it as he was sure of his rank.

Cochran looked at him, his own expression showing surprise. But, the surprise quickly faded into the scowl he perpetually wore.

"Finally figured that out, eh? I thought you were supposed to be psychic or something?"

Epic ignored the jibe. "Is that how I came to be here?"

Cochran sat heavily into his chair and indicated Epic take the seat opposite him. Epic pushed his fingers through his dark hair and sighed. Then, he sat.

"Yes, Epic. You are here because I requested you. I requested you because you are a fine officer. I requested you because you have the abilities of your Betazoid mother. And I requested you because you are my son."

Epic nodded as Cochran finished. "How much of my fortunate career do I have to thank you for?"

Cochran laughed. "Fortunate career? Boy, you have been in more trouble than any five officers I ever knew. I am a captain who has made very few friends in this Starfleet. I don't have the influence to help myself, much less a bastard son who has managed to scare the hell out of every superior officer he ever served under." Cochran laughed again. "I think you keep getting promoted so that your current CO can get rid of you. You're not a bad officer, boy. You're just....", he thought about it. "Chris Wolfe aboard the Nova said you were `intimidating'. The Counselor who supported your promotion to the Grail, what was her name, Marisela Teax.... She said you were `a powerful and manipulative empath'. Epic, son...", he smiled, shaking his head. "You have a strange viewpoint on your career if you consider yourself fortunate."

Epic had to smile at the older man. Cochran was right, he supposed. Epic had spent most of his career to date trying to fit in. He never had. For very obvious reasons.

But, he felt things would be different here. Here, he wasn't even close to being the strangest person on board. Here, he was almost normal.

"Epic...", Cochran leaned a little across his desk, getting closer to his XO. "There are a few reasons that I have yet to disclose to you about your being here. But, let me say this...." Cochran took a deep breath.

"The chances of our success are less than our chances of survival. But, damn it, with God as my witness, we are going to finish this tour and we are going to return someday. Not all of us are going to make it...." And when he said that, Epic felt a great pulse of fear coming from the other man. "But those of us that do make it will return heroes. And Starfleet will be sorry they ever decided to send us to our dooms."

"You don't think you're coming back." Again, there was no doubt in Epics voice. He knew Cochran's heart.

Cochran leaned back in his chair. His eyes locked with Epics and they stared at one another for a long while. Neither flinched, nor turned away. Cochran smiled tiredly.

"I am not coming back, son. In fact, I will most likely not survive the year. I am dying."

Epic felt almost nothing at the revelation. However, questions abounded. "How did you get this assignment if you are terminally ill?"

Cochran waved his hand and snickered. "I have a friend or two left, Commander. Getting this command was a simple matter. No one else wanted it."

Epic was not stupid. He knew what it meant if the Captain were to perish when the Grail was well underway. "You meant for me to have the Grail."

Cochran nodded. "The only thing I will ever give you, son. I have been watching you. From the time you were born, your mother always let me know what you were doing. When you joined Starfleet, it was even easier to keep tabs on you. You have ambition and personal power, Epic. And you have pride. And resentment. You resent Starfleet Command and you resent everyone who ever thought ill of you. If anyone will succeed in this mission, it will be you. And it might be pure spite that allows you to do it, but you'll do it just the same. You are more like your `old man' than you know."

Epic sat there for a long while, saying nothing. Cochran looked at the chronometer on the wall.

"Well, I ain't dead yet, Commander. Don't you have a job to do?"

Epic was somewhat taken aback by the sudden change in mood, but he found his voice. "But, I have so many questions. I...."

"Later, Epic. After dinner, maybe. I'll answer all your questions then."

Epic stood and looked at the man. "Why didn't you marry my mother?

"Later, Commander.", Cochran sighed. "I'll answer all your questions later."

Epic nodded once, then exited the office. He still had a job to do.